Apparatus for freezing canned goods



Dec. 27,1932. 0. G. SORBER APPARATUS FOR FREEZING CANNED GOODS FiledNov. 9. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet Jam'at 6. Sorek;

IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 27, 1932.

D. G. SORBER APPARATUS FOR FREEZING CANNED GOODS Filed NOV. 9. 1931ATTORNEY.

f 2 wm a m e I ,-M 1% w 2 3 v r v. a A A Dec. 27, 1932. o. e. SORBER"1,892,224

APPARATUS FOR FREEZING CANNED GOODS Filed Nov. 9. 1931 s Sheets-Sheet s2.? ,Darrz' eZ 6. Sorez;

JNVEN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE iAPPLBATUS FORFREEZING CANNED GOODS Application fled. November 9, 1931. Serial No.573,974.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for freezing cannedgoods to be stored and marketed in a frozen condition.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine orapparatus of the above kind within which an intensely cold condition isproduced and through which the canned goods to be frozen are passed,thereby eifecting a close-coupled transfer of heat.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improvedself-contained apparatus for efiecting a direct transfer of heat fromtheproduct being frozen to the refrigcrating system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus oftheabove kind which is eflicient and continuous in operation,comparatively simple in construction, and otherwise well adapted forbeing readily placed into practical use.

Briefly stated, the present invention contemplates the provision of anapparatus for vfreezing canned anexpansion chamber within which acompressed and cooled refrigerant is expanded for being further cooled,a settling chamber to receive the refrigerant after being ex-' pandedand further cooled, a further chamber directly surrounding the settlingchamber and having a. refrigerant bath therein so that transfer of heatmay-take place from the refrigerant bath to the refrigerant in thesettling chamber, means for continuously passing the canned goodsthrough the refrigerant bath, means for discharging the canned goodsfrom the refrigerant bath af er passing therethrough, absorption coilswithin'the settling chamber, and means for circulating the refrigerantof the bath through said absorption coils from the refrigerant bathchamber back to the latter whereby transfer of heat from the refrigerantof the bath to the expanded refrigerant in the settling chamber. isgreatly augmented for effectively freezing the contents of the cannedgoods in the comparatively brief interval which they require to passthrough the refrigerant bath.

Other objects and features of the invention goods or the like,includingwill become apparent from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away and in section, ofan apparatus embodying the present invention.

Figure 2.is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially upon line3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail section showing the connection wherebythe refrigerant of the bath is discharged into the bath chamber from theabsorption coils.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the present inventionpreferably comprises a central inclosure composed of a cylindrical bodyportion 5 and a conical top 6. Suro rounding this inclosure is a housingcomposed of a cylindrical body portion 7 in spaced concentric relationto the body portion 5 and a top hemispherical dome 8 in spacedsurrounding relation to the conical top 6. An expansion or convertingchamber 9 is thus formed within the dome 8 and between the latter andthe conical top 6, within which a compressed and cooled refrigerant,such as carbon dioxide, may be expanded through a suitable expansionnozzle indicated generally at 10. Also, there is also formed betweenthecylindrical body portipns 5 and 7 in communication with theconverting dome or expansion chamber 9 an annular chamber -11 into whichthe refrigerant may pass or settle after being discharge through thenozzles 10 and expanded. In case the refrigerant used is liquid carbondioxide, the latter will expand within the chamber or dome 9, and due tothe sudden release of the same from pressure, its temperature will besufliciently lowered so as to convert the same into a solid or snow.This snow will fall downwardly along the conical top 6 and into thesettling chamber 11 as and for a purpose which will presently becomeapparent. The dome 8 is provided with a discharge pipe 12 through whichthe refrigerant may pass back to the compressor of the refrigerantcompressing and cooling system, it being understood that suchrefrigerant will evaporate and return to liquid or gaseous form from thesolid form as the transfer of heat takes place within the chamber 11 inthe manner to be- .described later.

It is well known that carbon dioxide, upon sublimation, passes directlyfrom a solid to a gaseous state, and the gas may be liquefied by againcompressing rangedwithin the chamber 14 is a stationary helicaltrack-way composed of spaced rails 16 respectively secured'to the innersurface of cylinder 13 and the outer surface of body portion 7. Thishelical track-way provides a helical can-path down which the cans ofgoods to be frozen may roll by gravity from the top to the bottom of thechamber 14 and through the refrigerant bath at 15. The diameter of thespiral track-Way is relatively great so that the cans can roll freely,and

the spiralis quite long and of-such slight pitch that there will be noundue pressure on the cans at the bottom to \retard their downwardrolling movement. A casing 17 is provided about the entire structure,and a packing of suitable heat-insulating material is provided at 18between such casing and .the parts which it surrounds, thus minimizingheat losses. A wall 19 is provided at the bottom of body portions 5 and7 and cylinder 13 for closing the lower ends of the latter, and a wallextends inwardly as at 20 from the top of the cylinder 13 to the bodyportion .7

for closing the top of the refrigerant bath chamber 14. Provided in thetop of casing 17 and cylinder 13 is an opening indicated generally at 21in Figure 2, and leading through this opening is a chute 23 down whichthe canned goods may roll by gravity onto the spiral track-way formed byrails 16. A vertical compartment 23 is provided at one slde of theapparatus between the cylinder 13 and casing 17, which compartment 23'opens at thetop through the casing 17 above the level ofthebath 15.Arranged within this compartment is a suitable endless belt conveyor 24having hook-shaped flights 25 and arranged to elevate the canned goodsfrom the bottom of chamber 23 to a point outside of the casing 17 ontoan inclined discharge spout or chute 26. At the lower end of 'thechamber 14, the track-way composed of rails 16 passes outwardly throughthe bottom portion of cylinder 13 into'the bottom of chamber 23 so as todischarge the cans onto the flights 25 of conveyor belt 24. A suitableregulator or feeder 27 is provided in the bot tom of chamber 23 beneaththe discharge ends of the track rails 16 so as to cause the cans to passin regular order, one by one, onto the flights 25 as the latter comeinto osition for properly receiving the cans. Th1s feeder 27 merelyconsists in a peripherally notched wheel operated from the lower drivenshaft of conveyor 24 and adapted to receive the cans successively in theperipheral notches thereof so that the cans are prevented from rollingtoo rapidly ofli' of the lower ends of rails 16, or whereby they areintermittently discharged onto the flights 25 as they come into loadingposition with respect to rails 16.

Arranged within the chamber 11 are a series or plurality of seriallyconnected vertical V-shaped coil elements 28, which, in the presentapparatus, constitute absorption coils which are connected at suitableintervals at the lower portions thereof as at 29 with thechamber 14, andwhose upper portions are connected at suitable intervals as at 30 with ahorizontal annular manifold 31 arranged within the upper portion of theenclosure 5, 6. This manifold 31 connects as at 32 with the outlet of arotary pump 33. Radial pipes 34 extending through the top of chamber 11and body portion 5 place the refrigerant bath chamber 14 incommunication with the inlet of pump. 33,'and it will thus been seenthat when pump 33 is placed into operation the refrigerant'of bath-15will be drawn into pump 33 through pipes 34 and will then be dischargedfrom saidpump into manifold 31 and then through connections 30 into theupper portions of the coil elements 28, finally passing from said coilelements through the con-' neotions 29 into the lower portion of chamber14. As this refrigerant of the bath 15 circulates through the coils 28it is effectively cooled by the absorption of heat therefrom to theexpanded refrigerant within the chamber 11 about the coil elements 28.The V-shaped form of the coil elements 28 is such as to facilitate'packing of'the solid carbon dioxide or carbon-dioxide snow against suchcoils as it falls into the settling chamber 11. This insures goodcontact between the expanded rcfrigerant and the coil elements 28 sothat most efficient transfer of heat is insured. As

before pointed out, when the apparatus is in used, the cans, uponleaving the apparatus by way of chute 26, are preferably passed througha vacuum chamber 35 so that the alcohol may be removed from the cans andcondensed for re-use in the apparatus. The vacuum chamber 35 m'ay'hav'ea suction pipe 35a in communication therewith, and the cans may becarried through this chamber bya rotatable carrier 36 having peripheralockets 37 to receive the cans, and being suitably operated by power.

In operation, the cans are continuously fed onto. the track-way composedof rails 16, from a suitable source of supply and by means of chute 22.The cans roll slowly and by gravity down this track-way from top tobottom of the chamber 14 and at all times within the refrigerant bath15. As transfer of heat takes place fromthe canned goods to therefrigerant of the bath, such heat is removed from the refrigerant ofthe bath by conduction through the wall of body portion 7 and by contactof the expanded refrigerant with coil elements 28 within chamber 11, assuch refrigerant of the bath is circulated through the coil elements 28by means of pump 33. The cans are then delivered intermittently and oneby one onto the flights of the elevator or conveyor 24 which deliversthe canned goods onto chute 26 for be:

ing discharged from the apparatus to asuitable point of delivery. Incase alcohol is used for the refrigerant bath, the cans will passthrough the vacuum chamber 35 for having excess alcohol removedtherefrom, whereby the alcohol so removed may be recovered and reused inthe apparatus. As before stated, the compressed and cooled refrigerant,such as carbon dioxide, is discharged through expansion nozzles 10 intothe expansion chamber or converting dome 9, and as this refrigerant isreleased from pressure it is greatly cooled and passes downwardly alongthe conical top 6 into the settling chamber 11 about the coil elements28. As the transfer of heat takes place within the chamber 11, theexpanded refrigerant vaporizes or sublimates and passes back to thecompressor of the refrigerating cycle by way of pipe 12.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided acomparatively simple and eflicient apparatus for continuously movingcans of goods through a cooling bath so that the temperature of thecontents of the cans will be quickly lowered to a point where suchcontents are frozen solid. Minor changes are contemplated within thespirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What- I claim as new is:

1. An apparatus for freezing canned goods or the like comprising anexpansion chamber, means for supplying acompressed and cooledrefrigerant to and expanding the same within said expansion chamber, asettling chamber to receive the refrigerant after being expanded, a furher heat-insulated chamber directly surrounding the settling chamber andin heat transferring relation to the latter, said further chamber having a refrigerant bath therein, a fixed b lie-ally directed track withinsaid further chamber defining a can-path down which the cans may roll bygravity through the .bath, absorption coils within the settlin the rerigerant of the bath from said further chamber through said absorptioncoils and back to said further chamber.

In an apparatus for freezing canned goods or the like, the combinationof an expansion chamber, means for supplying a compressed and cooledrefrigerant to and expending the same within said expansion chamber, asettling chamber to receive the expanded refrigerant from the expansionchamber, a further chamber having a refrigerant bath therein andsurrounding the settling chamber in heat interchanging relation with thelatter, and means for continuously passing canned goods in a helicalpath IEhrough the bath within said further cham- 3. An apparatus forfreezing canned oods or the like comprising an expansion 0 amber, meansfor supplying a compressed and cooled refrigerant into and expanding thesame within said expansion chamber, a vertical annular settling chamberto receive the refrigerant after being expanded, a further annularchamber surrounding the settling chamber and in heat interchangingrelation to the latter, a fixed helical track within said furtherchamber down which the canned goods may roll by gravity within saidfurther chamber, said further chamber having a refrigerant bath therein,absorption coils within said settling chambelg and means for circulatingthe refrigerant of said bath through said further chamber and saidabsorption coils.

4. An apparatus for freezing canned oods or the like comprising anexpansion c amber, means for supplying a compressed and cooledrefrigerant into and expanding the same within said expansion chamber, avertical annular settling chamber to receive the refrigerant after beingexpanded, a further annular chamber surrounding the settling chamber andin heat interchanging relation to the latter, a fixed helical trackwithin said further chamber down which the canned goods may roll bygravity within said further chamber, said further chamber having arefrigerant bath therein, absorption coils within said settling chamber,and means for circulating the refrigerant of said bath through saidfurther chamber and said absorption coils, said absorption coils beingof vertical V-shaped form and serially connected together.

5. An apparatus for freezing canned goods comprising an inclosure havinga cylindrical body portion and a. conical top, a housing surrounding andin spaced relation to sald inclosure. said housing comprising ,a bodyportion in concentric relation with the body portion of the inclosureand a dome in spaced chamber, and means for circulating relation to theconical top of the inclosure,

- whereby an expansion chamber is provided chamber, means for betweenthe. conical top and the dome anda settling chamber is provided incommunication with the expansion chamber between said body portions, aheat-insulated casing surrounding and in spaced relation to the bodyportion of the housing to provide a further chamber surrounding and inheat-interbody portion and a conical top, a housing surrounding and inspaced relation to sai inclosure, said housing comprising a body portionin concentric relation with the body portion of the inclosure and adomein spaced relationito the conical top of the inclosure, whereby anexpansion chamber is provided between the conical top and the dome and asettling chamber is provided in communication with the expansion chamberbetween said body ortions, a heat-insulated casing surrounding and inspaced relation to the body portion of the housing to chambersurrounding and in' heat-interchanging relation to the settling chamber,a vertical helical track arranged within said, further. chamber downwhich the cans may roll by gravity, means for feeding the cans onto saidtrack at the top of said further chamber, means .for discharging thecans from the apparatus after passing through said further chamber,absorption coils arranged within said settling chamber, means forcirculating a refrigerant through said further chamber and saidabsorption coils,

said last-named means comprising connections between the bottoms of saidcoils and the bottom of said further chamber, a circulating pumparranged within the inclosure and having its outlet connected with thetops of said coils, and further connections between the top of saidfurther chamber and the inlet of said pump.

7. In an apparatus for freezing canned goods, a vertical cylindricalchamber having a refrigerant bath therein, a settling chamberin'heat-interchanging relation with said first-named chamber, absorptioncoils within said settling chamber, means for circulatingtherefrigerant'of the bath through said firstnamed chamber and saidcoils, means for con- ,tmuously passing cans of goods through provide afurther I said first-named chamber, and means for expanding a compressedrefrigerant and suppling the same to said settlmg chamber.

11 testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DANIEL G. SORBER.

